Sponsors (2)
Introduced February 25, 2026 by Richard Lynn Scott · Last progress February 25, 2026
The bill strengthens federal direction and dedicated funding for border response, cybersecurity, and election security—making planning and federal-local coordination more predictable—but does so by limiting local discretion, compelling collaboration with immigration enforcement to obtain funds, and reallocating resources away from other local public-safety needs.
Local, State, Tribal, and territorial agencies receive clearer, consistent HSGP/UASI grant priorities for urban preparedness and border response, making multi-year planning and resource allocation more predictable.
Local governments and urban areas receive dedicated funding to strengthen cybersecurity defenses, improving protections against cyberattacks on municipal systems.
Urban areas must allocate at least 3% of UASI awards to election security, providing dedicated resources to safeguard voting infrastructure and election administration.
Local, Tribal, and municipal governments (and the communities they serve) may be compelled to coordinate with ICE and federal immigration enforcement to secure grants, including exposure to debarment risks that could chill jurisdictions from applying.
Mandated allocations for border crisis response and other specified areas (including a 30% routing requirement and 10% border set-aside) risk diverting HSGP/UASI funds away from other public-safety priorities (e.g., terrorism prevention, public-health preparedness, community policing).
The statute reduces local discretion by codifying priorities and allowing federal grant conditions to override local laws for recipients, limiting jurisdictions' flexibility to tailor funds to local threat profiles.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Requires UASI grant recipients to allocate at least 30% of each award across five priorities and sets minimums of 3% for election security and 10% for border response beginning FY2027.
Requires recipients of Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) grants to direct at least 30% of each award to five specified national priority areas, with minimum allocations of 3% for election security and 10% for border crisis response and enforcement. Establishes detailed definitions of allowable border-related activities, requires coordination with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for border projects, sets application and certification requirements, and authorizes DHS to deny, withhold, or impose remedies for noncompliance; the rules apply to UASI grants awarded in FY2027 and after.